Beyond the endless layers of existence lay a structure few beings could even

  comprehend.

  Planets gathered into Universes.

  Universes intertwined into Multiverses.

  And above them all existed something far greater.

  Realms.

  A single Realm dwarfed countless multiverses like grains of sand in an ocean.

  And each Realm had a ruler.

  A voice echoed across the cosmic void.

  Calm. Cold. Powerful.

  “Most beings never understand the structure of reality.”

  A man floated in the emptiness of space, surrounded by collapsing dimensions.

  His silver hair moved slowly in the cosmic wind.

  His crimson eyes glowed like burning stars.

  “My name is Rajock.”

  Before him floated nine other figures.

  Each radiated enough power to shatter realities.

  Rajock slowly raised his hand.

  Across his palm spread a glowing dragon-shaped mark.

  “This...”

  The mark pulsed with violent energy.

  “...is Dagon.”

  One of the rulers scoffed.

  “So that cursed power again.”

  Another ruler spoke with irritation.

  “Rajock, you’ve grown arrogant.”

  A third added coldly,

  “You defeated Conexiton once. That doesn’t mean you rule us.”

  Rajock sighed.

  “You misunderstand.”

  He looked at them with a faint smile.

  “I never wanted to rule you.”

  The dragon mark began glowing brighter.

  “I only wanted freedom.”

  Suddenly the space around them cracked.

  Reality itself began trembling.

  One ruler shouted,

  “Enough talking!”

  “Attack him!”

  Nine cosmic forces exploded toward Rajock at once.

  Rajock clenched his hand.

  The dragon mark spread across his arm like burning veins.

  “Then come.”

  A massive dragon-shaped aura erupted behind him.

  “Let’s see if nine rulers are enough.”

  And the war of the Royal Realms began.

  Far away from that cosmic battlefield...

  On a quiet planet in a distant universe stood a small house surrounded by trees.

  Inside, a boy sat silently at a wooden table.

  His name was Dago.

  In his hands was an old photograph.

  A picture of a man.

  Silver hair.

  Confident eyes.

  Dago frowned.

  “So that’s him, huh.”

  Across from him sat his mother, Soji, quietly sewing clothes.

  Dago tapped the picture on the table.

  “This man...”

  He looked up.

  “...is supposed to be my father?”

  Soji stopped sewing for a moment.

  “Yes.”

  Dago crossed his arms.

  “Well he’s a terrible one.”

  Soji sighed softly.

  “Dago...”

  “He left us.”

  Dago’s voice was cold.

  “You never say anything about him. He never came back.”

  He stared at the photo again.

  “So why should I care?”

  Soji walked over and gently placed a hand on his head.

  “Your father...”

  She paused.

  “...had reasons.”

  Dago frowned.

  “Everyone has reasons.”

  He looked away.

  “That doesn’t mean they abandon their family.”

  Before Soji could respond—

  BANG

  The front door exploded inward.

  Armored soldiers stormed inside.

  Their armor carried a strange symbol.

  Soji’s eyes widened.

  “No...”

  One guard looked around the house.

  “Well well.”

  Another guard laughed.

  “After all these years... we finally found them.”

  Dago whispered,

  “Mom... who are they?”

  Soji’s face turned pale.

  “Royal guards...”

  She grabbed Dago’s arm quickly.

  “Listen to me carefully.”

  She lifted a wooden floor panel and pushed him inside.

  “Stay here.”

  “Mom what’s going on?!”

  “No matter what happens...”

  Her voice trembled.

  “...do not come out.”

  The guards walked deeper into the house.

  One of them noticed the photo on the table.

  He picked it up.

  “Oh?”

  His smile widened.

  “Look what we have here.”

  Another guard leaned closer.

  “That’s him.”

  “Rajock.”

  The guard laughed loudly.

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  “So this is where the great ruler hid his family.”

  Dago’s heart began racing.

  Rajock?

  Ruler?

  What were they talking about?

  One guard grabbed Soji by the arm.

  “Where is the child?”

  Soji shook her head.

  “I don’t know.”

  The guard slapped her.

  “Don’t lie to us!”

  Another guard stepped forward calmly.

  “You should cooperate.”

  He leaned closer.

  “After all... your husband caused quite a bit of trouble.”

  Dago clenched his fists inside the hidden compartment.

  His body trembled.

  One guard smirked.

  “You know... after Rajock defeated Conexiton, the other rulers were terrified.”

  “Imagine that.”

  “A single ruler threatening the balance of the Royal Realms.”

  Another laughed.

  “So we had to clean up the remaining problem.”

  He looked at Soji.

  “His bloodline.”

  Dago’s breathing became heavy.

  What were they saying?

  His father... fought rulers?

  Before he could think further—

  Soji suddenly whispered something.

  A glowing seal appeared briefly on Dago’s chest.

  Inside the floor compartment.

  Her voice echoed faintly in his mind.

  “Forgive me, Dago...”

  “I must hide your power.”

  The seal locked his energy completely.

  Then the guards dragged her away.

  Dago watched everything.

  Helpless.

  Tears streamed down his face.

  “Stop...”

  His voice trembled.

  “Please stop...”

  But no sound escaped the compartment.

  The guards eventually left the house.

  Dragging Soji with them.

  Silence filled the room.

  Minutes passed.

  Hours maybe.

  Dago finally crawled out.

  The house was destroyed.

  His mother was gone.

  He fell to his knees.

  “Mom...”

  His vision blurred.

  Something inside him broke.

  The seal trembled violently.

  Then everything went black.

  When Dago woke up again...

  The sky was gone.

  The ground was shattered.

  His entire planet had been destroyed.

  He wandered alone through the debris of space.

  Days passed.

  Maybe longer.

  Eventually his body collapsed.

  “Is this... how I die...”

  A calm voice answered.

  “Not today.”

  Dago slowly opened his eyes.

  An old monk stood above him.

  Long beard.

  Kind eyes.

  “My name is Manki.”

  The monk lifted him gently.

  “And you, child...”

  He smiled softly.

  “...have far too much life left to waste.”

  Years later.

  On the Mountain of Dao.

  Dago slammed his fist into a stone pillar.

  The pillar shattered.

  Manki stared at the broken stone in disbelief.

  “...Impossible.”

  A disciple nearby whispered,

  “Master... he only started training one year ago.”

  Manki nodded slowly.

  “Yes...”

  He looked at Dago carefully.

  “And he already reached Yin Ding.”

  Dago wiped sweat from his face.

  “Master.”

  “Yes?”

  “Why does everyone keep staring at me like that?”

  Manki sighed.

  “Because what you just did...”

  He pointed at the destroyed pillar.

  “...normally takes fifty years of cultivation.”

  Dago blinked.

  “Oh.”

  He scratched his head.

  “So... is that bad?”

  Manki laughed.

  “No.”

  He looked at the sky.

  “It means you’re something extraordinary.”

  But deep inside, Manki wondered something else.

  What kind of monster did I bring to this mountain?

  Later that night the disciples sat around a fire eating dinner.

  One student laughed.

  “Dago, slow down!”

  “You’re eating all the food!”

  Dago grinned.

  “Training makes me hungry.”

  Manki chuckled quietly.

  For a brief moment...

  Everything felt peaceful.

  Then—

  Footsteps echoed on the mountain path.

  Rough voices.

  A man shouted,

  “There!”

  Bandits climbed the mountain with weapons drawn.

  Their leader grinned.

  “Well well...”

  “Looks like we found some monks.”

  The disciples stood up nervously.

  Dago slowly rose to his feet.

  His eyes became calm.

  The seal inside his body pulsed faintly.

  The bandit leader pointed his sword.

  “Hand over your valuables.”

  “Or we kill everyone here.”

  Dago looked at Manki.

  “Master...”

  Manki sighed.

  “...looks like dinner is over.”